Latest Stories from Charlie
New spray-on coating could replace plastic food wrapping
Researchers at Harvard and Rutgers have developed a new plant-based antimicrobial coating to protect food. It has the potential to replace single-use plastic wrappers. As anybody who eats on-the-go knows, plastic wrapping and single-use packaging is a major environmental waste problem. We throw away tons of cardboard and plastic every year, all in the name of convenience food. If we’re to meaningfully reduce our emissions and use of traditional packaging,...
Half of UK cite ‘takeaways and Netflix’ for Gen Z’s inability to buy houses
A new study by King’s College London has found that 48% of the UK public believes Gen Z spend too much on takeaways, Netflix, and coffees, which is preventing them from buying houses. The actual facts suggest otherwise. Next time you’re sat watching Friends in your overpriced rented flat, consider cancelling your subscription and throwing away those occasional coffees. You can forget about that McDonald’s order, too. Electricity? What is...
Lizzo changes lyrics to new single after backlash
The lyrics to Lizzo’s new single ‘Grrrls’ included an ableist slur at the beginning of the first verse. Fans criticised the track’s use of the word and Lizzo has now replaced the lyric in response. You’ve no doubt heard the popular single ‘About Damn Time’ from US singer Lizzo that’s making the rounds on TikTok at the moment. She’s facing backlash this week, however, with the drop of her latest...
Activist wears a month’s worth of trash as a suit
Environmental activist Rob Greenfield wore a month’s worth of his own rubbish to demonstrate how much we generate on a regular basis. It also makes for quite the fashion statement. Next time you’re taking your bins out, perhaps consider donning those discarded bags of cardboard and food waste as a fresh new outfit. It may sound like an insane suggestion, but that’s exactly what environmental activist Rob Greenfield did last...
New ‘DALL-E Mini’ website sparks arty social media trend
A new open source AI application lets anyone input prompts and generate images via a database algorithm. Social media has been messing about with its tools and coming up with some truly bizarre results. The inevitable shift to algorithm-generated artwork is well under way, at least as far as surreal abstract pieces go. You may remember that we wrote about the advanced AI programme called ‘DALL-E 2’ a few...
What is the 30×30 conservation initiative?
The 30x30 initiative aims to designate at least 30% of all land and oceans as ‘protected areas’ by 2030. The target was first created in 2019, with over seventy nations agreeing to participate. As you’re no doubt aware, our oceans are under serious threat as climate change becomes more severe. There are a ton of problems we face in the next few decades, including ocean acidification, mounting plastic pollution, degrading coral...
Bees are now considered fish in California
A new court ruling has decided that some species of bee can now legally be considered fish in order to provide extra protection under the California Endangered Species Act. Consider yourself an expert on bees? Are you an academic on all things honey, hives, and bumbling? Those clued up on the iconic winged pollinators may want to brush up on their knowledge after this weekend, as a California court ruling now...
Japanese city to pay couples to live near old people
To combat an ageing population in Japan, the city of Chiba in Greater Tokyo is subsidising newlyweds who move into specially chosen buildings that house predominantly older residents. Ever looked at a care home and wanted to live next door? Consider yourself particularly accustomed to the company of elderly people? Starting next month, Chiba in Greater Tokyo will be subsidising up to $2,319 to new couples who move into specially...
McDonald’s exits major market for first time with Russia departure
Burger chain McDonald’s is to close all its Russian restaurants, marking the first time it has ever exited a major international market. It is another big brand boycotting Putin’s aggression in Ukraine. Russian citizens will no longer be able to order McDonald’s or work at its restaurants after the company announced it will be selling all 850 of its Russian eateries. It comes in response to Putin’s recent military aggression...
Explaining Gen Z’s unsurprising adoption of nihilism
Young people face a world of uncertainty. Climate change, political turmoil, growing wealth inequality, and many more knock-on capitalist trends have caused a rise in nihilistic attitudes. What is nihilism - and how can it both be freeing and oppressive? Whichever way you look at it, the world faces an ambiguous future. Regular IPCC reports present a bleak late-century climate, largely destroyed by rising emissions. Wealth inequality continues to grow....
